Window regulator



Aug. 6, 1935. GRAF 2,010,075

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 #1 26 28 27 INVENTOR. EDWIN L. G/Fflf.

ATTORNEY-5.

Aug. 6, 1935. E. GRAF 2,010,075

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. Eawm/ L. G/P Yf.

/ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2.010.015 wmnow amourroa Edwin L Graf, Detroit, Mich., auignor to Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan vApplication October 12, 1933, Serial No. 893,280

3Claims.

This invention relates to a window regulator and more particularly to a window regulator of the crossed lever arm type which provides a twopoint suspension for the window panel.

A window regulator having crossed lever arms of equal length which are pivoted together midway between their ends is old. In the new type of automotive vehicle body incorporating the Fisher no draft ventilation system, the window openings, and in particular, for example, the front door window opening is closed by two cooperating window glass panels: a front panel which closes the front portion of the window opening and is swingable about a vertical axis and a rear panel which closes the rear portion of the window opening and is slidable upwardly and downwardly. This type of window regulator with crossed lever arms of equal length pivoted together at their mid-portions. particularly when used in the above window assembly, has one drawback where the one arm is used as the power arm and the power applied to this arm through a gear segment integral with, or secured to one end of, the power arm. This drawback is that the window regulator crank handle which operates the pinion for driving the gear segment will be so positioned relative to the vehicle seat that it will be in the way of the passenger and interfere with his comfort while seated. This, in turn, requires that the inside remote door latch handle be positioned to the rear of the regulator handle in a position where one can only operate it awkwardly and with difficulty. An important advantage of this type of regulator is that it provides a twopoint suspension for the window panel.

It is an object of this invention to obtain all of the advantages of the crossed lever type of regulator and yet do away with the drawbacks above alluded to by positioning the window regulator crank handle relative to the seat so that it will not interfere with the comfort of the passenger. This has been achieved broadly by making the lever arms of unequal length and more specifically the power arm longer than the balance arm so that the regulator crank handle can be positioned sufficiently forward relative to the seat that it will not be bumped by, or interfere with, the passenger, or so that the remote handle can be positioned where it may be easily operated.

Obviously, if the points of suspension between the regulator arms and the window panel did not travel upwardly and downwardly the same distance and at the same speed the panel would cock and consequently jamb in the window guides. It is an object of this invention to produce a window regulator of the crossed lever arm type which will not only permit the regulator crank handle to be positioned out of the range of the passenger's body but will also maintain the window panel on an even keel as it is raised and lowered. This has been achieved by making the lever arms of unequal length and locating the pivotal connection between the levers proportionately between the ends of the levers with the same ratio of division for each lever.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevation partly broken away of a vehicle door showing the window regulator assembly.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are details showing one form of pivotal connection between the levers.

Figs. 6 and 7 are details showing a modified form of pivotal connection between the levers.

Figs. 8 through 15 show various arrangements of the levers all of which incorporate the same proportionate division of the levers.

For the purpose of explanation, there is shown in Fig. l a front door window assembly of the Fisher no draft ventilation system for automotive vehicles. This window assembly comprises the swinging panel I which is pivoted about a vertical axis and closes the front portion of the window opening. The rear portion of the window opening is closed by the panel 2 which is slidable upwardly and downwardly to closed and opened positions. The front seat 3 is shown by dotted lines to indicate the relative position of the seat and the front door with its pivoted and sliding panels. It is understood that the regulator shown and which will be described specifically below is not limited in its application to this type of window but is peculiarly adapted to this type of window and the conditions obtaining therewith.

The lock board 4 has secured thereto the regulator support plate 5. The support plate 5 has pivoted thereon as at 6 the long lever arm i and the gear segment 8 which may be made integral with the arm I or stamped out separately and riveted thereto. The lifting power is applied to the arm I through the sector 8 by means of any suitable crank handle and driving pinion shown at 9. The lift arm I is counterbalanced by the convolute spring Iii in the well known manner. For reasons set forth below, it is preferable that the arms 1 and I 4 be positively conneoted to the window panel 2. To effect such positive engagement the opposite end of the lifting arm "I is provided with a stud II which slidably engages the channel l2 detachably secured to the lower edge of the window panel 2. The stud II thus constitutes one of the suspension points of the panel 2. The lift arm I has pivotally secured thereto, as at I3, the balance lever I4. One end of the cross arm I4 carries the stud I5 which has a slidable engagement in the channel guideway I2 and the other end of which carries the stud I6 which has a slidable engagement with the channel guideway II which is fixed to the lock board 4. The stud I5 constitutes the other point of suspension of the panel 2. The lever arms I and I4 and the guideways II and I2 are so arranged that a line passing through the lifting studs II and I5 will always be substantially parallel to a line passing through the pivot points 6 and iii. In other words, the channel guideway II is parallel to the guideway '2. a

One specific form of the pivotal connection l3 between the lever arms I and I4 is shown in Fig. 5. In this form the arm I4 is a one piece metal stamping and passes through the arm I. To this end the arm I4 is a single metal stamping with the portion on the one side of the pivot I3 offset from the portion on the opposite side with the interconnecting portion l8 passing through a slot IS in a circular disc 20 which is rotatably mounted in a circular opening 2I in the arm I. The disc bearing 20 is secured to the arm I4 by the rivets 22. The rivets 22 likewise secure to the disc 20 on opposite sides of the lever I the sector plates 23 which overlap the arm I to hold the disc 20 in the opening 2I.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown a modified form of pivotal connection between the levers I and I4. In this form the lever 1 is provided with a circular opening 24 through which the lever [4 passes. The lever I4 in turn, as in the above form, is provided with offset portions on either side of the pivot and the interconnecting portion 25 is in the form of a circular journal which rotatably engages in the opening 24. The lever I is provided with the arcuate ribs 26 which serve as bearings for the lever arm I4. The arms I and I4 are held together by the sector plate 2! which is riveted to the oblique stamped interconnecting portion 25 of the lever I4, as at 28, which sector plate 21 overlaps the arm I, as at 29. The sector plate 21 is also provided with an arcuate bearing rib 30.

Since the panel 2 is guided along its vertical edges in the usual parallel channel guideways, it is essential that the points of suspension I5 and II should at all times be horizontal to prevent cocking of the panel 2 in its window guides and consequent sticking. In any event the suspension points I I and I5 and the guideways which determine the line of travel of the panel 2 must at all times be so arranged that a line passing through the points II and I5 will be approximately perpendicular to the guideways or path of travel of the panel 2, otherwise the panel will cock and stick in its guideways. Further, it is desirable, but not necessary, that the points of suspension II and I5, at all times during the travel of the panel 2, should be on opposite sides of the vertical center line of the window panel. At the same time, as above pointed out, it is desirable to have the window regulator crank handle 9 positioned sufiiciently forwardly relative to the seat 3 to prevent the crank handle from interfering with the body comfort of the passenger. This can be achieved by making one or the lever arms longer than the other. By so doing the crank handle 9 can be offset from, or positioned appreciably forwardly of, the sliding panel 2.

To this end the arm I is made longer than the balance arm I4. Since the arm I is longer than the arm I4, the arcuate path of travel of the suspension point II has 'a greater radius than that of the arcuate line of travel of the point I5. Therefore, unless the levers are properly constructed the vertical travel of the one point of suspension will be different than that of the other. This would cause the window panel 2 to cock in the guideways. To obviate this difliculty it has been discovered that if the levers are properly proportionately divided that the vertical travel of the points II and I5 will not only be equal but at the same rate of speed during their movement. This condition will always be obtained where the one lever arm is longer than the other if the arms are divided according to the following proportions: azb equals :11. In this proportion (1 is the length of the portion of the arm I between the pivot I3 and the point of suspension II, b the length of the portion of arm I between the pivot support 6 and the pivotal connection I3, c the length of the portion of the other lever arm' I4 between the point of suspension I5 and the pivotal connection I3, and d the length of the portion of the arm I4 between the pivotal connection I3 and the sliding pivotal support pin I6. As herein used the length of the arms means the critical length, that is, the distance (a plus b) between points 6 and II for arm I and the distance (0 plus d) between points I5 and I6 for the other arm I4. A speciflc example of this type of regulator with lever arms of unequal length is as follows: The lift arm I may be 12 inches long, the balance arm l4 may be 9 inches long. If a ratio of 5 to 7 is decided upon then the proportionate division of the levers will be as follows: a equals 5, b equals '1, c equals 3%, d equals 5%. If a ratio of 7 to 9 is decided upon then a equals 5%, b equals 6%, 0 equals 3%, d equals 5 If the ratio 5 to 11 is decided upon then a equals 3%, b equals 8%, 0 equals 21%, d equals 6 In other words, the lengths of the respective levers, provided they can operate within the confines and conditions of the window well, are immaterial, but it is critically important that they be proportionately divided and pivoted together according to the above equation in order to maintain the points of suspension II and I5 at all times horizontal or perpendicular to the path of travel of the window (i. e., so that lines passing through points II and I5 at all elevations will be approximately parallel) and, their rate of rectilinear travel equal.

It will be seen that such a regulator has an important advantage in that cross arms of various lengths may be used with the same lift arm or vice versa, thus simplifying the manufacturing problem where several sizes of regulators are to be used.

Various forms of the regulators are shown in Figs. 8 to 15, each of which incorporates the same idea of proportionate division of the levers. The usefulness of these various arrangements are dependent upon the conditions in obtaining various types of window assemblies. The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 is particularly useful in the rear the window is closed by a swingably mounted ventilating panel swingable on a vertical axis. In this form the regulator, as well as those shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the pivotal connection is between the levers I and I4 is between the point of suspension H and pivotal support 6 of the lever 1 as well as between the point of suspension ll and the pivotal support It of the lever H.

In the form shown in Figs. 10 through 15 the point of suspension II and the pivotal support I of the lever I are on the same side of the pivotal connection I3 between the levers and the same is true relative to the lever ll, namely, the point of suspension l and the pivotal support II are on the same side of the pivotal connection it.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l the points of suspension II and I! are always on opposite sides of a vertical plane through the pivot II as the window is raised and lowered.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the points of suspension I l and I! are always on the same side of a vertical plane running through the pivotal connection I3.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the points of suspension are always to one side of a vertical plane through the lever pivot l3 and the pivot supports 6 and it of the respective levers are always between the points of suspension and the pivot l3.

In Figs. 12 and 13 the suspension points H and I5 are always on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the pivotal connection It.

.In Figs. 14 and 15 the points of suspension II and is are always to one side of a plane passing through the pivotal connection l3 and the point of suspension in the case of each lever is always between the pivot I3 and the pivot supports 8 and it of the respective lever.

The conditions obtaining in some window assemblies will require both points of suspension II and I5 to be on the same side of the vertical center line of the window panel 2. In such cases it is important that there be a suitable form of positive engagement between the levers 1, l4 and the window panel 2, such as exemplified by channel l2 and stud l5 as shown and described above. Where the points of suspension II and ii are on opposite sides of the center line of the window each of the arms 1 and H are actually liit arms.

Where the points of suspension II and it are on the same side of the vertical center line of the window panel 2, the arm I is the lifting arm and the arm I! in a sense becomes the balancing arm because, even though the main lifting force is applied to one side of the vertical center line of the window, the arm HI, owing to its positive engagement with the window panel 2, positively holds the window on an even keel. Hence, in those cases where the points II and I! are on the same side of the center line of the window panel 2 and the arm l4 serves as a balancing arm, whether an upward force or a downward force be applied on the lift pin I5, is immaterial. This is true because the positive engagement of the stud IS in the channel I2 and the continuous even keel position of points I I and I5 so that lines through points II and I5 are approximately parallel at all elevations of the panel 2, as above described, prevents the panel 2 from cocking.

In those cases where the points of suspension H and I5 are on opposite sides of the vertical center line of the window panel 2 so that both arms I and I4 are lifting arms, it is preferable, although not essential, that the arms have a positive engagement, with the window panel 2. In such a case the window may merely rest upon the suspension studs II and I5 and will not cock in its guideways because the suspension points are on opposite sides of the centerline of the panel.

By positive engagement between arms I, ll and panel 2, it is meant that the arms and window panel 2 are so connected that theymust move up and down together, that is, the connections are such that the upward as well as the downward thrusts of arms I, I 4 are transmitted to the panel 2.

i I claim:

1. A regulator 1'0. raising and lowering a window panel comprising in combination a pair of arms of unequal length, a pivotal connection between the said arms, a pivotal support for each of said arms, the pivotal support of one of said arms being movable toward and away from the pivotal support of the other of said arms to permit inversion of the arms as the window panel is raised and lowered, and a point of suspension between each of said arms and the window panel, the said pivotal connection between the arms being located according to the following proportion: azb as czd where a. equals the length of that portion of the first arm between the point of suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, b equals the length of the remaining portion of said first arm between the pivotal support for the said arm and the pivotal connection between the arms, 0 equals the length of that portion of the second arm between the point of suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, and d is the length of the remaining portion of the second arm extending between the pivotal support for that arm and the pivotal connection between the arms.

2. A regulator for raising and lowering a window panel comprising in combination a pair of arms of unequal length, a pivotal connection between the said arms, a pivotal support for each of said arms, the pivotal support of one of said arms being movable toward and away from the pivotal support of the other of said arms to permit inversion of the arms as the window panel is raised and lowered, and a point of suspension between each of said arms and the window panel, the said pivotal connection between the arms being located between the point of suspension and the pivotal support for each arm according to the following proportion: azb as czd where a equals the length of that portion of the first arm between the point of suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, b equals the length of the remaining portion of said first arm between the pivotal support for the said arm and the pivotal connection between the arms, 0 equals the length of that portion of the second arm extending between the point of suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, and d is the length of the remaining portion of the second arm extending between the pivotal support of that arm and the pivotal connection between the arms.

3. A regulator for raising and lowering a window panel comprising in combination a pair of arms of unequal length, a pivotal connection between the said arms, a pivotal support for each of said arms, the pivotal support of one of said arms being movable toward and away from the pivotal support of the other of said arms to permit inversion of the arms as the window panel is raised and lowered, and a point of suspension between each of said arms and the window panel, the said pivotal connection between the arms being located 'with the point of suspension and the pivot support for each arm on the same side 01 the said pivotal connection and according to the following proportion: azb as czd where a equals the length of that portion 0! the first arm between the point 0! suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, b equals the length of the remaining portion of said first arm between the pivotal support for the said arm and the pivotal connection [between the arms, 0 equals the length of that portion 01' the second arm extending between the point 0! suspension and the pivotal connection between the arms, and d is the length oi the remaining portion of the second arm extending between the pivotal support for that am and the pivotal connection between the arms. v 

